Time when people used to wait for the weekend to go shopping is gone. E-commerce is skyrocketing globally. Morgan Stanley reports e-commerce to surpass $1 trillion worldwide by 2016. iOS and Android mobile app development is the best advocate for many retailers. Some stats say mobile apps are now generating almost half (47%) of retailers’ mobile revenue with the rest coming from mobile browser sales. Mobile now totals to 34% of all online transactions globally and is predicted to reach 40% of all online transactions by the end of 2015 according to Mediapost latest report.
Famous brands, like other retailers, invest in software development for e-commerce in order to go global. After all, they have something others lack – customers’ loyalty and trusted names – but haven’t always used these advantages as they could have. Since software development for e-commerce offers more than just a transaction, mobile apps for retailers enable improved customer experience.
Here we show you some vivid cases how e-commerce mobile app lets retailers go global.
Case 1. Trusted relationship and expertise from Mothercare.
Mothercare, retailer of products for mums-to-be, looked to iOS and Android mobile app development to engage their customers more. The app development company and Mothercare managers started with an understanding that their revenue and success rely on a famous brand name and numerous offers and promotions. According to Mr. Singh, one of Mothercare managers, these have sometimes been even unprofitable to the company.
For Mothercare, iOS and Android mobile app development has become a way not just to sell products in a more convenient way for customers but also to regularly get them back into the app and engage them with the brand.
How does it work? The main trick is that Mothercare e-commerce mobile software development product builds a trusted relationship with customers. We melt with tenderness when we hold a baby in our arms. However, taking care of a baby is something absolutely different. Sometimes, choosing the right thing for a kiddy is challenging and needs expertise. The app developers developed for Mothercare app a rich functionality to provide customers with information and advice.
Firstly, mummies and daddies can shop the full range of Mothercare products and view all the details, images as well as watch videos. The iOS and Android mobile applications also let customers see what other mums and dads think of products. Mothers-to-be just simply tap a wished item to find out more about it.
Secondly, the e-commerce geolocation mobile app helps to locate the nearest store by a current location and see its opening hours, address or simply call a store or get directions how to navigate to that store from a current location.
Thirdly, the app development company equipped the app with a baby-namer feature. It seems to be a good philosophy to engage customers who never know what strange, funny and beautiful names they will choose for their baby.
Fourthly, mummies and daddies can take advantage of baby tunes. The iOS and Android mobile app development offers a large collection of rhymes, sounds, lullabies and other tunes specially recorded for bump, baby and child.
Case 2. Sophisticated style emphasis. Just the way it is.
Mango, clothing retailer, also launched its mobile software development for e-commerce to increase its global presence. In comparison with Mothercare app, Mango iOS and Android mobile app emphasizes the subtle style and sophistication of its products and store locations the way women like.
Users can search for sales, buy items, create a wish list, choose nearby Mango locations and check whether a product is in stock in a particular location. The Mango iOS and Android mobile application has a feature of scanning bar codes and providing additional details about a product. Thus, the app development company accentuated spotless and fast user experience with Mango. The result came soon. In 2014, the fashion retailer reported more mobile sales than ever before. The e-commerce mobile software development product enabled 30% of online sales in 2014, up 10 % from 2013.
Case 3. Awesome and simple for every day.
Wlmart, American retail giant with e-commerce fulfillment centers worldwide, considers software development for e-commerce a privileged investment in 2015.
During the current fiscal year, software developers, and app development companies among others, are announced to earn appr. $190 mln and more. This is the price Walmart is going to pay for improved e-commerce sites, iOS and Android mobile app development as well as new direct-to-consumer fulfillment centers in the 10 countries where Walmart operates retail websites.
It all goes without saying that Walmart was one of the pioneers among supermarkets to launch a mobile app. The Walmart Android mobile app development simplifies shopping for customers the way its slogan claims – “Save you time and money”. The mobile app allows users to order things and pick them up in-store or get them delivered to their homes, see what’s in stock, and checks the prices so that they will never run out of their budget. Walmart software development for e-commerce enhances user experience, saves time and lets customer grab values on the go.
Case 4. Favorited items.
App development companies inspired IKEA to add omnichannel experience to shopping in its locations worldwide and make a move towards mobile functionality. The Swedish company launched an app in connection with the release of its 2015 catalog.
The iOS and Android mobile app development allows customers to designate items as favorites with a “star” and add them to a shopping list. Lists can be connected to individual store locations to check what’s in stock or can be added to a checkout cart for online ordering. IKEA’s iOS and Android mobile app development also has sharable content. Users take advantage of an augmented reality feature that allows them to virtually place items in their homes. The app also allows sharing of videos with do-it-yourself tips and stories behind IKEA products. The strategy has worked out. Forbes reports that in 2014, IKEA added 12 stores in 10 markets. No doubt that the mobile app will retain customers there.
Summing it all up, app development companies can cut this Gordian knot how to increase global presence for retailers. Each iOS and Android mobile app development is a tailored solution that takes into account business sphere, target audience, goals, etc. All retailers need to do is to find the right mobile edge for them.
Industries: Retail
Technology Areas: software development, mobile application development, iOS, Android
